Universal scaling of the order-parameter distribution in strongly disordered superconductors

Abstract

We investigate theoretically and experimentally the statistical properties of the inhomogeneous order-parameter distribution (OPD) at the verge of the superconductor-insulator transition (SIT). We find within two prototype fermionic and bosonic models for disordered superconductors that one can identify a universal rescaling of the OPD. By performing scanning-tunneling microscopy experiments in three samples of NbN with increasing disorder we show that such a rescaling also describes the experimental data with excellent accuracy. These results can provide a breakthrough in our understanding of the SIT.